VIRTUE AND VICE 257 



Passing from the mental to the bodily characteristics of 

 hawks, we find that occasionally two hawks are so alike that it 

 is almost impossible to distinguish them except by their jesses, 

 while others of the same kind and sex are so dissimilar that a 

 stranger may find it difficult to believe that they do not belong 

 to different species. There are, naturally enough, good and bad 

 hawks of every shape, size, and colour ; and it would be very 

 rash to pronounce off-hand at the first sight of one that she 

 is worth more than any other. Nevertheless there are certain 

 peculiarities which are found in the average of instances, taking 

 many together, to belong more commonly to the best hawks, 

 and others which in the great majority of cases betray the bad 

 performer. These have always been remarked. They are 

 mentioned in many ancient books, written in many languages ; 

 and there can be no doubt that after taking a good look at 

 several individuals, an experienced judge will pick out those 

 which he would prefer to possess if he had the choice. John 

 Barr told me upon this subject a rather pleasant story. He 

 was travelling southwards with a large number of hawks by 

 train, when at an intermediate station he met with the late 

 Prince Dhuleep Singh, who during a great part of his life was 

 a most enthusiastic and successful falconer, by whom Barr was 

 at one time employed. The Prince immediately inspected 

 the hawks, which, I believe, were the same that were after- 

 wards flown at Epsom, and in the course of conversation 

 pointed out in their order the hawks which were likely to do 

 best. The falconer mentally noted the selection thus made, 

 and afterwards found that it was accurately justified by the 

 result. 



It is somewhat curious that the same characteristics which 

 in one species of hawks mark out an individual for admiration 

 or the reverse, are mostly found to serve a like purpose in the 

 other species. The following short remarks, therefore, unless 

 when otherwise specified, may be taken as applying to hawks in 

 general. 



One of the very first points of which a critic will take note 

 is the foot of a hawk. Long toes are a great merit ; and if they 

 are slender and well separated at the bases, it will be all the 

 better. *Nor is there anything mysterious or unnatural in this, 

 for, the wider the area which the hawk's foot can cover, the 

 better chance she obviously has of catching hold with one talon 

 or the other of the quarry at which she strikes. Another 

 notable characteristic of the best feet is that they fasten them- 



